Visitors 28
Modified 30-Mar-10
Created 30-Mar-10
12 photos

As human beings we all have a balance of happiness we return to regardless of the circumstances under which we live our lives; this is relative happiness. Within communities of struggle, poverty and misfortune there appears to be a stronger joyful force around Family, faith, connection to the land and community. In an exploration to create social change from a positive perspective, I am replacing images of struggle, pain and injustice with ones of faith, laughter and families supporting one another in love. There appears to be many benefits to simply living, priorities fall with family, less external media causing meaningless pressures as well as a connection to the spirituality of living in faith. Persons born into affluence often loose touch with reality and become disconnected from the root aspects of life, which are vital to attaining happiness. Is living “The Good Life” truly the path to happiness? I’m sure Britney Spears, Bobby Brown and Lindsey Lohan, just to name a few, knows other wise.What constitutes a good or bad life? Researchers commonly use statistics such as health, economics and literacy to qualify communities impoverished. These statistics are valid sources of information, which, indeed define a state of poverty. I believe there are circumstances within poverty that offer hope and potential to change, a gateway to living “The Good Life”.In the pursuit to qualify communities as less than living the “Good Life”,basic human needs such as faith, family structure and sustainable potential are often overlooked. Going beyond the struggle, I hope to unlock the strengths that hold less fortunate communities together in joy as well as common good. Not discounting the efficacy for social change, that images of struggle, suffering and injustice hold; this has been and will continue to be an important aspect of creating awareness. I only hope to represent perspectives that speak of the strengths which preserver regardless of the economic label given to a less fortunate community. These strengths are basic human needs, which create that balance back to relative happiness. These strengths, which I have come to recognize in communities of poverty are like seeds, given the right conditions to flourish faith, family, low impact living and community can offer sustainable socio/economic potential for the future.